'Blasphemy allegations': Two arrested over killing of Satkhira man

Police on Friday arrested two suspects in a case filed over the lynching of Wahiduzzaman Shamim, 38, in Debhata, Satkhira district, after some of the attackers accused him of blasphemy.

The two — Moktar Hossain Khan, 53, from Subarnabad village, and Asadul Islam Mollya, 46, from Nazirergher — were arrested in separate raids in their respective localities.

Confirming the arrests, Debhata Police Station Officer-in-Charge HM Shaheen told Daily Waadaa that a police team led by him made the arrests in the early hours of Friday.

Both were subsequently sent to jail through a court, the officer said.

Police operations to arrest the other accused in the case are continuing.

According to police and the case statement, Shamim was beaten to death in Debhata on October 13 after being accused of blasphemy.

His brother, Abdul Jalil, filed a case with Debhata Police Station.

The case names 10 people, with Fazlul Haque Ameni listed as the prime accused.

Ameni made public statements celebrating the killing on social media and was reportedly identified as one of those who led the attack.

Police told Waadaa on Thursday that Ameni was absconding.

Another 200 to 250 unidentified people have also been named as accused in the case.

Jalil alleged that the killing was orchestrated based on a false accusation of insulting religion. He called for a fair investigation, the arrest of those responsible and exemplary punishment.

Sections 295A and 298 of the Penal Code (1860) prohibit deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens through spoken words, written words, or visible representations.

These collectively include penalising sounds, gestures, or even placement of objects with deliberate intention of offending someone’s religious sentiments.

'Incitement led to killing'

Speaking to Waadaa, Advocate Munir Uddin, member-secretary of the Satkhira district council of the Manabadhikar Sanskriti Foundation, alleged that Facebook Live broadcasts and posts had spread incitement and created the circumstances that led to Shamim’s killing.

He said everyone involved should be brought to justice.

This was echoed by Madhab Dutta, chief organiser of the Satkhira district branch of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), who said taking a person with a reported mental health condition out of hospital and beating him to death constituted a serious violation of the law and human rights.

He said legal action should also be taken against those accused of inciting the violence.

What victim’s family says

According to family members, an audio recording of a verbal altercation between Shamim and his wife circulated on social media in the hours preceding his murder.

The family alleged that Ameni claimed the recording contained remarks insulting religion and called on people to gather in a Facebook Live broadcast.

An agitated crowd subsequently vandalised the gate of Shamim’s home, took him to Subarnabad market and beat him, according to the family’s account.

The family further alleged that Shamim was taken to Sakhipur Health Complex for treatment, but a group of people later arrived at the facility and assaulted him again.

Police rescued him in a critically injured condition and took him to Satkhira Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The family has called for an investigation to establish the role of each person involved in the incident.

Another of Shamim’s brothers, Tausiv Rahman Sagar, said Shamim was buried after funeral prayers following the Isha prayers on Wednesday night.

Sagar also claimed that family members were living in fear of the attackers.

The allegations against those named in the case have yet to be established in court.

What prime accused Ameni posted

At 12:08am on Wednesday, Ameni posted on Facebook confirming Shamim’s death.

“Alhamdulillah, he has died,” he wrote.

Earlier on Tuesday, Ameni had called for “exemplary punishment” for Shamim during a Facebook Live broadcast that began at 3:31pm.

“He has no right to live after making derogatory remarks about Allah, the Prophet, the Companions and the Quran. I swear that I am determined to send him out of this world wherever he is found,” Ameni said, urging others to join him in his resolve.

Two hours later, he appeared in another Facebook Live video outside the chamber of a local doctor, where Shamim was receiving treatment.

“He is being treated here. Yesterday, he drank poison in an attempt to commit suicide. He is currently receiving treatment at the chamber of Dr Sabur in Kulia,” Ameni said.

“I am Fazlul Haque Ameni speaking. I urge all of you to gather here. The person who compared the Companions of the Prophet to goats, made remarks about Allah, the Prophet and the Quran, and used extremely vile language about Allah’s very existence—something no Muslim can ever accept—doesn’t deserve any treatment, nor is there any question of handing him over to the authorities,” he added.

The video, also seen by Waadaa, showed Ameni and several others entering the doctor’s chamber and attempting to forcibly remove Shamim from the doctor’s care.

Shamim was subsequently beaten again before police rescued him, according to police.

Asked about Ameni's posts on Thursday, Satkhira police said Ameni might be posting from a hideout.